Automatic valve-controlling means.



R. w. PRESTON.

AUTOMATIC VALVE GONTROLLING MEANS. APPLIOATION FAILED JUNE 24,1912.

1,062,553. 'Patented May 20, 1913.

.' 'w w EMMMHMA; A /f/f l LEN l l Vm/TOR MTN/55555.' l

A fr0/@N5 'YS' and combinations,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

RAY W. PRESTON, F CONNERSVI'LLE. INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED VACUUM APPLIANCE COMPANY, 0F `P A'IEEIRSON,N NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC VAIJVE-CONTROLLING MEANS.

Patented May 20, 1913.

Application tiled June 24, 1912.v Serial No. 705,518.

To all whom- 2'25 may concern Y v Be it known that I, RAY XV. PRESTON, a citizen of the United States; and residentI of Connersvil-le, in the county of Fayette and State of Indiana, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Valve- Contrclling Means, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the aoccmpanying drawings. which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic valve controlling means.

@t is one ot the objects of this invention to provide an automatic valve controlling means which is adapted. to be actuated by vacuum means and to be used in connection with vacuumoperated valves for air, steam, gas or liquid, in vacuum heating systems or vacuum controlled electrical switches orrheostats.

' ,A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic valve controlling means which is particularly adapted for use in connection with vacuum cleaning systems for controlling the intermittent' supply of water to the dust receiving tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic valve controlling means which is adapted to permit the flow through a valve connected thereto of a pre'- determined amount of water directly from the water pressure pipe.

A further object of the .invention is to provide anv automatic valve controlling means which is adapted tocontrol the opening or closing of a val/'ve by vacuum means and to reverse the movement of the valve a predetermined period of time after the valve has been so moved.

T-Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention 'consists ofthe improved automatic valve controlling means and its parts as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. l

Referring to the drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all ofthe views: Figure 1 is a ver# tical secticnalview of the automatic valve vcontrolling means shown attached to the water inlet valve of a vacuum cleaning system; Fig. 2 is a side view thereof taken'at right angles to'F ig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view thereof; and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line eff-ft of Fig.. 1, of a valve valve casing. The

.stem 16 ot the plug extends through a stuifconnected to the outer end adapted to be used inconnection with the controlling means. I'

Referring to the drawing the numeral 8 indicates one of the valves adapted to be used in` connection with the controlling means. The valve is of the rotatable type and the casing 9 is provided with ports 10 on opposite sides ofthe plug 11 to equalize or balance the pressure, andthe plug is 'of tubular open end construction with opposite ports 12 which admitthe water to 'the bore 13 of the plug and from which bore it passes out through the discharge end let of theinlet opening l is adapted to be connected-to a source of Water under pressure supply and the'oiitlet' opening 14 is connected to the dust receiving tank (not shown) of a lvacuum cleaning system. The

ing box 1T of th casing and is provided with a valve arm 18 on its outer end.

The valve controlling means is mounted on the valve and comprises .a vacuum cylinder- 19 having its upper end closed by a head 19 and with its lower end open. The lower edge portion of the cylinder is provided with an annular inwardly extending flange 20 which serves as a stop to prevent the piston 21 from dropping out of the cylinder when in its lowermost position. The head 19 of the cylinder has extending there Jfrom a pipe 22 which leads to and connects with a vacuum pump (not shown) and which is adapted to exhaust thejair from the cylinder. The head is also provided with a leakage opening 23 which is controlledby a screwbolt 24 threaded into an upstandmg boss 25 formed on the cylinder head. The leakage opening extends at right angles to and communicates with the bolt opening 26 so that when the bolt is screwed into the lboss it will close the leakage opening. y

The piston Q1 has depending therefrom a connecting rod 2T which at its lower end is of the valve lever 18. An auxiliary piston Q8, rest-ing on top of the main piston 21 is provided with an annular opening or port "29 extending vertically through the piston and the outer ring 30 formed by the opening is connected to the medial portion ofr the piston by ribs 31. The upper face of the auxiliary piston is provided with an annular groove 32 to ac? commodate an annular rubber gasket4 33 whichl is adapted to close the open end of the vacuum pipe 22 when the auxiliary pis- .ton 28 is moved to the upper end of the cy-l- T he .lower end o-f the connecting rod 27 isprovided with a weight 34 which assists in pulling the main piston downwardly when released from the .suction` of the vacuum pipe. Other weights (not shown) may be connected tothe weight 34 to provide for further adjusting the rapidity of travel of the'main piston.

In the operation of the controlling means in connection with a vacuum cleaning appara'tus the main piston4 of the .controlling means is attached to the valve controlling the flow of water tothe dust receiving chamber and the vacuum pipe is connected'to the exhaust pump of the apparatus. When the air is exhausted from the vacuum cylinder l.the atmospheric pressure will :torce the main piston 'and the auxiliary piston resting thereon to the upperportidn of the cylinder,

and in moving upwardly the plug' of the water valve will be turned to open position and the dust receiving chamber of the apparatus will receive -its charge of water.

When thefauxiliary piston reaches-the cylinder head' the rubber gasket will co-ntact withthe surface thereof and seal the open ing .to thevacuum pipe, and as air will slowly enter the vacuum chamber through the leakage opening, the main piston will drop by gravity and closethe water valve. The auxiliary piston will beheld in its uppermost position by the atmospheric pressure as long as a vacuum is maintained in the vacuum pipe, but as soon as the vacuum is reduced by stopping the pump, or by other means, the auxiliary piston will drop to its initial position .by gravity and the controlling means 1s automatically in position for another cycle' of operation.

From the foregoing description itwill be seen that 'the automatic valve controlling means is adapted for use lin connection with vvacuum cleaning apparatus and many other systems using vacuum tension.

What I claim asmy invention is:

l1. An automat-ic cont-rolling means, comprising a vacuum cylinder, a main member 4positioned within the cylinder and Inovable therein by atmospheric pressure, and an 4auxiliary memberl positioned within the cylinder and movable in one direction by the main member and independently movable in the opposite direction.

2. An automatic controlling means, coma vacuum cylinder, al main piston positioned within the cylinder and movable therein by -atmospheric pressure,`and an auxture, in presence of iliary piston positioned within the cylinder and movable in one direction by the Vmain member and independently movable in the opposite direction, said auxiliary piston adapted to be held in a position of rest by atmospheric pressure. 3; An automat-ic controlling means, comprising a vacuum cylinder provided with an outlet opening and an inlet opening, a main piston within the cylinder and movable therein in one direction .by atmospheric pressure, and .an auxiliary.- piston positioned within the cylinder and movable vin one direction by the main piston to a position to seal the outletV opening of the cylinder.

4. Ali automatic controlling means, comprising a vacuum' cylinder provided with an opening through which the air is exhausted from the cylinder and also providedwith an air inlet opening, means for adjusting the size of said inlet opening, a main piston within the cylinder and movable therein in one direction by atmospheric pressure, and

an auxiliary piston positioned. within the cylinder and movable in one direction by the main piston to seal the outlet opening of the cylinder, said auxiliary pistonV adapted to be held in its sealing position while-the main piston is dropping to its normal position 0i rest.

prising a vacuum cylinder provided with an 5. An automatic controlling means, comopening through which the air is exhausted 4 from the cylinder and also provided with an air inlet opening, means for adjusting the size of said inlet opening, a main piston ing member carried by the auxiliary piston,

said auxiliary piston adapted to be held in its sealing position while the main piston is dropping to its normal position of rest.

`within the cylinder and movable therein in one direction by atmospheric pressure, a con- 6, An automatic controlling means, com-4 prising a cylinder, a main member positioned within the cylinder and movable W RAY w.- PRESTON.` Witnesses: l

D. W. MQKEE, HYATT L. FROST.

` therein, and an auxiliary member positioned movable 1n 'one d i- 

